It seems that I am on the mend. I go to the spine clinic in Oregon tomorrow morning, Clackamas, OR to be exact, for the next round of x-rays and hopefully the doctor will replace the brace attached to me with something a bit more comfortable and workable.
My living room organ played notes last night. It is frustrating that things take so long to do, but a long time is better than not being done at all. I have to disassemble the computer today to put it into a standard mid tower that will tuck into the console space designed for it. Martin Digital added a pretty nice feature to the table that adds a remote on off switch and light. Of course, one must know how to connect it to the motherboard (PC style) which in reality, is a very simple task. I am also listening through headsets since I cannot reach up to hang the speakers. I will get help for that though. I have new keyboard on it's way from Canada to replace the one that is broken and ribbon cables to connect the piston rails to the keyboard connectors. 4 rails for 5 keyboards, meh, it works.
Besides, I have a blank to go on the 5th one. There will also be 16 toe studs and connectors in the shipment from Classic Midi.
I did manage to connect a 4 expression pedals using a connector on the bottom keyboard for the 4th one. With extra time on my hands I've been doing something I should have done years ago, reading directions and specifications. It is a trait of my boomer generation to jump straight in to unfamiliar waters without first checking to see if we are dressed.
I connected the 2 Acer 27" touch screens from Newegg that were purchased refurbished by Acer. They are positively gorgeous and extremely responsive. For now they will just sit on the aprons of the table (with a bit of a counterweight to keep them from toppling over) but as soon as I can get out to the shop, I'll fabricate a proper enclosure for them. The delay will give me time to mull over several designs and hopefully choose the most workable. I want to be able to change out the monitors for various stop boards the purpose of which is to learn how to fabricate such things. I also want to prototype the stop jambs for the PAB console I plan to build and have the switches on order. All of this will influence the design of the enclosure as I do not want to make a new one for everything that I try.
As far as the barn goes, while I have resigned myself to contract out as much of the "dangerous" work as I can afford, I will not surrender completely. In order to permit myself to work safely above floor level, I've decided to invest in new steel scaffolding with outriggers for tip resistance, and a guard rail for the idiot working on the top level. I don't think this will put me in much danger because even if I should decide to pass out, I would not be able to fall over or under the rails and would go no further than the platform on which I was standing. Safety lines will be in order as they should have been last month.
I've found some excellent thin walled PVC piping of various diameters that will work very well as fake pipes. I've also located several types of metal paint that go from a mirror paint to one that approaches the look of spotted metal, all by Krylon. For the feet/toes/mouths etc, I've located compatible PVC sheeting that will work quite well for fabricating these parts. My only experience with pipe making was as a visitor to the Moller pipe factory in Hagerstown way back when. While an entirely different procedure (I would love to run the metal trolly over the casting table at least once) the method of forming the sheet into a pipe is similar just using PVC solvent cement instead of a soldering weapon and lead. As these pipes will be used for an artistic façade and to date, I've been focused entirely on the technical aspects, I'm going to see if I can conjure up some sort of artistic abilities in me. While I am loathe to outright copy another installation (save one console, that is) I've seen enough stunning pipework that I've got a few ideas. I will have one issue though, that of fabricating fake trumpets. I'm thinking of finding a broken clarinet on eBay and using the bell as a form over which to make the ends of the trumpet. Glued to a long PVC pipe of proper diameter, it may work. Only creating a prototype will tell. The advantage of using PVC vs metal pipes is that not only can I affordably do the work myself, I will also not have the weight issue. Putting 1/2" ply on the end walls is quite a load even for a steel framed structure and additionally hanging boxes full of aluminum or lead pipes on them just might cause structural instability.
Winter if moving in swiftly here in the pacific northwest and with it the rain. So far the new roof on the barn is performing remarkably well. The very next thing to happen out there, even before I start fabricating fake pipes, is having the furnace installed. Notice, I did not say install it myself.
I'm really anxious to see how it performs by all reports it should be outstanding and knowing that I will be helping to deal with logging waste and at the same time be using a very environmentally friendly unit makes me comfortable with my decision. While electric would be of a zero carbon footprint, all of our electricity is from hydro, it is also one of the most expensive in this area. The least expensive in this area is what I've chosen, a pellet furnace.
So you see, I'm trying to not let too much moss grow under my feet, especially since by whatever grace, I can still use them.